Is There A Buzzing In Your Ear?

 

This past week was absolutely nuts! Tax Day; Doctor’s Appointments; Finish preparing for a memorial service; Plus, my regular obligations of leading Bible study on Sunday morning and preaching two lessons on Sunday, not to mention my office duties to tend to. What made the week more interesting is when a construction crew one block over cut through the internet cable reminding me how much I rely on that service (yes, the telephone was dead too). That afternoon and the next morning, my cellphone racked up some data serving as a hotspot for my office computer (unlimited data plan finally paid off). By Friday morning it felt like everything was closing in on me but by noon-thirty the plan was coming together and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel (oh, I hope it’s not a train!). I kept circling the wagons to make sure I wasn’t forgetting something – I seem to be good at that. Well, it’s Friday night and all seems to be under control and ready for delivery.

We often fail to consider the gradual, accumulative effect of sin on our life. (Keep reading.) In St. Louis in 1984, a woman noticed some bees buzzing around the attic vent of her house. Since she noticed only a few, (so she thought) she made no effort to deal with them. Over the summer though, the bees continued to fly in and out the attic vent while the woman remained unconcerned, but unaware of the growing city of bees moving into her attic. In a relatively short period of time, nearly the whole attic became a hive. It became so large that her bedroom ceiling suddenly caved in due to the weight of hundreds of pounds of honey and thousands of angry bees. While the woman escaped significant injury, she was unable to repair the damage of her accumulated neglect.

[Psalm 38:1-8] Consider David’s reflection on the heaviness of sin. “Oh Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.”

Instead of neglecting the sin in your life that will one day crush down upon you, seek forgiveness and restoration. For David wrote elsewhere, “I acknowledge my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

A Bible school teacher had her older teen students bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes to class. For every person that they refused to forgive in their life experience, they were to choose a potato, write that person’s name on it, and put it in the plastic bag. Then they were told to carry the bag with them everywhere for one week, putting it beside their bed at night, on the car seat when driving, on their lap when riding with others, and next to their desk at school. Some of the bags became quite heavy. The hassle of having to lug the bag around made it clear what weight they were carrying spiritually, and how they had to pay attention to it all the time to keep from leaving it in embarrassing places. Naturally, the potatoes became moldy, smelly, and began to sprout in the eyes.

Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, and it clearly is for ourselves! To forgive unloads what would otherwise become a heavy, rotten burden. Can you hear a buzzing above your head? Is it time to address it before it becomes too heavy?

It's Right To Be Right

 

Little Tommy’s grandfather was something of a philosopher and never missed an opportunity to pass on his deep insights into the human condition to his grandson. One day grandpa announced in a sober tone, “Tommy, you need to remember that only fools are absolutely certain, but wise men question.” Tommy asked, “Are you absolutely sure about that, grandpa?” With a straight face the old man nodded his grey head and said, “Yes, Tommy, I’m absolutely certain.” Certainty is a hard commodity to come by these days. Ours is an age when it is cool, philosophically, to not be too sure about anything. A fuzzy view of truth has washed over into our moral, spiritual, and religious views in life. The result is that now all ways are viewed as equally valid, except for the view that says all ways are not equally valid. No view is judged as wrong, except for the view that judges some ways are wrong. A world that prides itself on not being certain about anything is absolutely certain, one cannot be absolutely certain about anything.

In 1770 a fiery Boston lawyer (later to become the second President of the United States) John Adams, very unpopular but very successfully defended some British soldiers in court over what is now known as The Boston Massacre. In his argument before the jury, Adam’s said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

[The Book of Esther] Sometimes it is hard to challenge a person to do the right thing. Sometimes doing the right thing is very difficult. The decision to stand for the truth may cost one precious friendships, and even family, but it must be done. In Esther we read the account of a man that was King appointed to the highest position of authority, below the king, in Persia. The king commanded all men of a lower position to bow down to him. This man was Haman. Haman plotted to wipe out all the Jews from the land. But there was one God-fearing Jewish man that refused to bow down to Haman named, Mordecai. Mordecai also discovered two of the king’s bodyguards were plotting to kill the king. Mordecai urged Esther, now Queen of Persia, to go to the King and warn him. But unless the king sends for the queen, she could be put to death. Esther knew she had to do the right thing and, even at the risk of her own life, presented herself to the king. We need Esther’s courage to stand for what is right. Although the right thing is sometimes often hard to do, all men, and especially Christians, must do it! The greater risk of the spiritual consequences should outweigh the risk of physical consequences. “…do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be. For Christ said the way to heaven is a narrow way, and there are few who will find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Let me encourage you to do the right thing regardless of the cost. Heaven will be worth it! Think about it!

“What if the Lord came tonight, and the way I’ve lived has not been right. What would I give to turn back time, If the way I lived was not in line? If I knew the Savior, but left Him behind, And lived my life as though I were blind; What would my fate be in the end, If I didn’t follow Jesus, my devoted friend? I’ll have to answer for my own fate, for at the last minute it will be too late; If I didn’t take time to fully prepare, And devote my life unto His care. He’s given me time to get it right, And patiently waited both day and night. His coming should be my greatest hour, As He comes for me in a flash of power. God help me prepare for that sweet day, Just help me stay in the narrow way. When life gets hard and I want to flee, I’ll strive to be ready when You come for me.” Author unknown.

Your Words Mirror Your Heart

 

There are many ways we use our words each day. In a recent study researchers found that on average, women speak 16,215 words per day and men speak 15,669 words per day. Some people use very few words, and some people seem to never stop talking, even to talking in their sleep. By the time we are 1 year old, most of us are using words and our vocabulary only grows from there. Most of us use at least some of our words each day in a negative way. Gossiping, lying, backbiting, cursing, telling coarse jokes, and complaining are all ways of spending our words. When we spend our words in these fashions, the cost will often be far more than we ever imagined. We may lose family, friends, spiritual brethren, credibility, the respect of others, and possibly even our own souls. I was shocked to hear Mr. Biden making a national declaration, elevating an ungodly misrepresentation of humanity, declared on March 31, 2009, by the executive director of Transgender Michigan, Rachel Crandall-Crocker (to be celebrated each year), to dedicate Resurrection Sunday as Transgender Day of Visibility, as he had done the three years prior. Mr. Biden, you will rue the day you spit in the eye of God as well as all those you are supporting.

[Matthew 12:36-37] Jesus said, “I say to you that for every idle word that men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Paul exhorted, “Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). How we use our words each day can have a profound impact on one’s life and the lives around us. We can use these words in a careless even destructive manner, or we can use them in a productive way, to build people up.

If I called you a Nimrod, how would you feel? If you are like most people, you would probably feel insulted. The popular definition for a nimrod is an inept person, an oaf, a moron, an ignoramus. The original name Nimrod really meant to be a skillful mighty hunter. Its origin is found in Genesis 10:8-9: “Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD." How did the mighty hunter become an inept oaf? Well, it’s all Bugs Bunny’s fault. Ok, maybe not all his fault. You see in the popular cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, Bugs often times will refer to Elmer Fudd as a “little Nimrod,” a sarcastic reference to the mighty hunter of the Old Testament. The writers might have gotten the joke, but the general public didn’t. They assumed, in their ignorance, the word was an insult and began to use it as such. The new meaning took over.

This doesn't just happen in cartoons, there are numerous examples of people taking Biblical words and concepts and flipping their meaning till the point that more people accept the new definition rather than the Bible one. Words like pastor, grace, and baptism have been corrupted from the biblical meaning to a popular one. Pastors are not a single preacher but the Biblical group of overseers (shepherds) of God’s people (i.e., a congregation) (Acts 20:28). Grace is made into a license to sin (Jude 4). Baptism has gone from a complete immersive burial in water to pouring or just sprinkling (Colossians 2:12).

Words have meaning. If we change that meaning we might as well change the word. Don't fool yourself into thinking you are biblical if you still use a Bible word yet have a different definition than the Bible has. If we genuinely want to be biblical, we must hunt thru the Scripture to see if the things we are taught are really the things that are in Scriptures (Acts 17:11). When it comes to what the Bible says, we need to be a Nimrod, not a nimrod.

O! For A Home With God!

 

He was a Polish youth of sixteen who left his land-locked country, entered the French Merchant Marine, and later worked for sixteen years on British ships in every part of the world. At age thirty-eight he became an English novelist. He completed thirty novels, seven volumes of short stories and three volumes of essays. His name was Josef Korzeniowski – better known as Joseph Conrad. His background served to make him a consummate writer of sea-stories. As intriguing as these stories are, there’s something special in the way he treats landfalls and departures – a journeys beginning and ending.

There is no denying the excitement of departure with its dreams and expectations, but one leaves with one particular destination in mind. One always charts a course aiming for that one destination – maybe an island in the ocean, a single headland upon the coast of a continent, a lighthouse on a bluff, or simply the peaked form of a mountain which appears to float upon the waters. And then it appears on the expected bearing. Landfall!

But, before landfall, Conrad describes in his writings how the spirit of the ship’s commander is stirred. He is not content to stay in his stateroom but is tormented by an unconquerable restlessness. He will “go out on deck and gaze ahead, through straining eyes, as the appointed moment draws nearer.”

In my younger years, beginning my journey as a Christian, I could never understand the restlessness of many elderly saints – the eagerness they seem to have for death. Only now am I beginning to see dimly what they were looking for. Landfall! The journey’s end!

[Revelation 21:4] Heaven must be a wonderful place, where there will be no tears, no pain, no more death, nor no sorrow. Surely everyone who believes in heaven wants to go there. But we hear people say, “It doesn’t matter what you believe, we’re all going to the same place.” Strange as it may seem, we are all going to the same place. We are all on our way to meet God in the judgement! “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement” (Hebrews 9:27). The most important question is: How can I prepare to meet Him, so that God will say to me, “…Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:31-46).

Men say there are many ways to heaven; let each person chose their own way. Jesus taught there is only one way – His way – the way of faith and obedience. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John14:6). Paul wrote: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

The Hebrew writer states: “And having been perfected, He (Christ) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…” (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16); also “…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). All who continue to live in faithful obedience to the Word of Christ are on the way to heaven, with its dreams and expectations encouraging them to keep their eyes on the horizon for sight of our Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:10).

  “O! for a home with God, a place in His courts to rest; Sure in a safe abode with Jesus and the blest; Rest for a weary soul once redeemed by the Savior’s love; Where I’ll be pure and whole and live with my God above.” (Alone at Eve – Thos. R. Sweatmon / Will W. Slater) Are you ready for Judgement Day? It may be coming sooner than you think!

Are You Missing Something?

 

Old man comes into a restaurant, sits at his usual table, and orders the usual — matzoh ball soup. The waiter sits it down in front of him and stands back to watch him enjoy it.  But the man just sits there. "Is there something wrong?" the waiter asks. "I can't eat this soup," the man replies. "Is it too hot?" the waiter asks. "No." "Too cold?" "No." "Too salty?" "No." The waiter calls for the maitre d', and for the chef, and each goes through the same routine: "Too hot?" "Too cold?" "No, no, no." Finally, the chief, at his wits end, says, "Sir, I will taste the soup myself. Where is the spoon?" Says the old man: “A-ha!"

[John 1:1-5] Jesus is eternal, yet He clothed Himself with human nature and walked among us (John 1:14). In so doing, He experienced the frailties and limitations of mankind. He became thirsty, He knew hunger, He grew tired, He experienced pain, and He was limited by time and space. It is amazing that, though Jesus was involved in the creation of the universe and enjoyed a glorious relationship with the other two members of the Godhead, He left heaven and came to earth and lived as a human being for 33 years. His story remains the most intriguing and compelling story in history.

We’re introduced to Him at a very critical moment in history. Adam and Eve had sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that was in the midst of the Garden of Eden. The blight of sin, disobedience, was introduced to the human race. God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden because sin cannot rest in the presence of God. Their sin carried the penalty of death, both physical and spiritual. However, in His mercy and compassion for man, God promised a Deliverer who would inflict a fatal blow to Satan, man’s adversary (Genesis 3:15). This deliverer is Jesus Christ.

Every event recorded in the Old Testament proved that man needed a deliverer. He found it impossible to live above sin. Not even the Law God gave Israel (Moses) on Mt. Sinai could deliver man from sin (Acts 13:39), for that law demanded perfect obedience and man is incapable of living such a life.

This situation produced a real dilemma. The cry of man’s soul became, “How can I, a sinful creature, escape suffering the consequences of my sins?” The blood of animals offered upon a thousand alters could not accomplish that need. If we listen carefully, we can hear that same cry of the human soul today.

The answer to the cry is found in Jesus Christ alone. Paul testified, “…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole. This is the stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).

He was born to poor parents in a stable. Yet, He made many spiritually rich. He never owned a piece of real estate where He might lay His head. Yet, He has comforted many and provided them with rest for their soul. He was not a world traveler. Yet, He has affected the world as no other person has ever done. He allowed Himself to be ill-treated by man and become the object of scorn. He was shamefully treated and ultimately crucified on a cross. Why? Because, being a sinner, man could not save himself. Jesus died in our place. Jesus paid the debt we owed God for our sin by becoming sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and dying in our place (Romans 5:6-21). What a Savior! One cannot eat of the fruit of the spirit without Jesus in their life. One cannot be forgiven of sin without Jesus in their heart.